WHAT IS BAINGAN KA BARTHA? SMOKED AUBERGINES: HOW TO MAKE DELICIOUS, EASY, SPICY SMOKED AUBERGINES WITH ONIONS

BAINGAN KA BARTHA

Baingan ka Bartha is a traditional vegetarian Pakistani recipe and a great way of cooking aubergines. As the skin is removed it is OK for those who suffer from IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. First of all you have to char the aubergines over a gas flame so tat the skin can be removed easily and this gives the aubergines a delightful smoky flavour.

SPICY SMOKED AUBERGINES WITH ONIONS

Ingredients

2 medium aubergines

4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 inch ginger root, finely chopped

6 green chillies, finely chopped

3 tomatoes, chopped

6 onions, sliced

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 handful coriander leaves, shredded

½ handful mint, shredded

1 tbsp cumin seeds

1 tsp coriander seeds

1 tsp ajwain or thyme

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp chilli powder

salt to taste

2 cups oil

Method

Char aubergine skin all over, over a low gas flame or place in an oven on a baking sheet; 5 minutes each side.

Put in cold water to remove all the skin. Remove the stem from the top of the aubergine and chop into small pieces.

Heat the oil in a pan and throw in the garlic, ginger and cumin seeds and cook or 1 minute. Add the chopped aubergines, salt, turmeric, green chillies and black pepper and fry for 3 minutes.

Then add the tomatoes, coriander seeds, chilli powder, ajwain or thyme, garam masala, and stir well until the tomatoes disintegrate.

Now add the onions and stir well to mix. Lower the heat and cover for 3 minutes. Then turn the heat up to medium and stir so that the mixture doesn’t stick for 5 minutes or until the oil rises to the top and can be clearly seen.

Add the coriander and mint leaves and remove from the heat. Leave for 5-10 minutes to settle and serve with roti, chapattis or naan or other bread of your choice.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

WITCH HAZEL-NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA,HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES

WITCH HAZEL TREE, HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA

The Witch Hazel tree has a curious history surrounding its name. When the first colonists arrived in America, they found this tree growing. The Native Americans used it for reducing swellings, making poultices form the leaves, twigs and bark of this tree. It looks a little like the Hazel tree (Coryllus avellana) and in Britain there is the wych elm so it would seem that the early colonists combined the names but modern spelling has called he tree the witch rather than wych hazel. Presumably it is called virginiana after the colony of Virginia which was named after Queen Elizabeth I who was known as the Virgin Queen as she never married. Hamamelis is a combination of the word hamam meaning bath or more specifically the Turkish bath and meli which is Greek for apple and honey. There are many kinds of Witch Hazel trees one of which is Hamamelis mollis which has its origins in China and seems not to have the same medicinal properties of the American variety. This one was introduced into the UK from China in the 1880s and is used for ornamental purposes only.                                                                                           

   Hamamelis virginiana can grow in the UK but does not produce seeds, but this tree gets its name Snapping Hazel, it is thought because when they seeds ripen the pod ejects them rather violently and a definite noise can be heard. It is also called Winterbloom as its leaves fall in autumn and the flowers then appear. These can be yellow-gold, or red or orange, and the nuts appear after the flowers have died. The trees usually only grow to heights of between 10 and 12 feet, and have several slender trunks coming from one root system.

  The leaves and bark of this Witch Hazel have astringent qualities due to the tannins they contain and they have been used as a sedative and tonic. Today the extracts prepared from the leaves, twigs and bark of the tree are used in preparations to reduce the pain of piles and to dispel them, and Witch Hazel has been approved for such use by the German Commission E a which has also approved the tisane from the leaves for gargling to reduce the inflammation associated with a sore throat. It is also taken to help skin problems along with cream containing witch hazel extracts.

  In the past Witch Hazel’s parts have been used to stop internal bleeding and haemorrhage. A decoction was used for excessive bleeding during periods and in the event of back-street abortions it was given to prevent bleeding and as a general tonic.

A tisane of the bark or leaves or a combination of both was used for stomach problems and applied externally to varicose veins.

     The extract available over the counter is good for insect bites, and inflammation of the eyelids as well as for piles.

  The leaves contain tannins as does the bark, and flavonoids including kaempferol and quercetin. The leaves also contain caffeic and gallic acids which are both phenolic acids. The tree has been used for centuries for the same ailments, and it seems that the extracts from it work without ill effects except perhaps for slight irritation and a burning sensation when the cream or lotion is applied to weeping piles.

ALOO CHOLAY ( CHANA CHAAT): HOW TO MAKE DELICIOUS POTATO AND CHICKPEA DISH

ALOO CHOLAY RECIPE

This is very tasty and the imli (tamarind) water makes this dish special. However some people don’t like it so you can serve the water separately. If everyone likes it then stir it into the mixture. People eat it during Ramadan to break their fast as it is light and easy to eat. The main meal is served later.

  In India and Pakistan this is a very popular dish and there are many street vendors who sell it. People take advantage of this as it can be time-consuming to make as here the chickpeas are soaked overnight and then cooked for hours until they are tender.

Ingredients

½ kilo potatoes peeled and boiled whole in salted water.

250 gr chickpeas cooked until tender (in salted water)

2 onions, finely sliced, or chopped into small pieces

2 tomatoes chopped into small pieces

2 green chillies, finely sliced

½ handful fresh mint leaves, finely shredded

100 gr imli (tamarind) boiled in four glasses of water and the liquid reduced by half

4 tbsps lemon juice

1 tbsp garam masala powder

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

chilli powder and salt to taste

Method

Leave the potatoes to cool and then cut them into cubes.

Drain the chickpeas and add them to the potatoes.

Now add the vegetables and mint leaves. Mix well and add the spices and lemon juice and mix well. At this stage it can be put in the fridge for later use.

When ready to serve, put on plates and serve imli water separately. It is better not to put the mixture in the fridge with the imli water already in it.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

WHAT IS PEEPAL? SACRED FIG TREE: FOLK REMEDIES, CUSTOMS AND MEDICAL EVIDENCE: PEEPAL PICKLE RECIPE FOR HEALTH

PEEPAL, PIPAL, BO TREE, SACRED FIG TREE, FICUS RELIGIOSA

The Peepal tree is known by many names in the Indian subcontinent, including Bodhi tree, Sacred tree, Ashvatta and the Buddha tree. It is a large fast-growing deciduous tree that has leathery green heart-shaped leaves and a spreading crown. It is thought to be the female counterpart of the bohar or banyan tree, and they should, it is thought, be planted near to each other. In one custom a young person plants a peepal tree and a bohar tree close to home and there is a ceremony in which the trees are ‘married’. This will protect the home and the young person from misfortune it is believed. As a member of the Ficus family its fruit are purple figs like those of the Punjabi fig tree and both ripen in May. It is sacred to Buddhists and Hindus and people leave coloured silks on the tree as they pray for increased fertility, children and a happy long life.

  In the past women who were infertile would stand under a peepal tree in spring when or after it rained and open their mouths to catch the water that drained from the new leaves. It is said that this worked for some.

  Another remedy for a woman’s infertility is to take 10 leaf buds and an eighth of a litre of cow’s milk and boil this until the milk has gone. Leave to cool and eat it. You can eat the same amount twice a day or more for seven days and Insh’allah Allah will help.

  It is said that Buddha achieved Enlightenment while sitting under a peepal tree, and its leaves are used in religious ceremonies. It is a symbol of peace and Enlightenment and a personification of Buddha. For Hindus it is sacred to Vishnu who was born under a peepal tree, and it is a sin to destroy either this tree or the banyan.

  Some Indians preserve the leaves of this tree by painting them with gold acrylic paint and they are then decorations with religious significance. A deep red dye is obtained from the bark, but this is of secondary importance, as the peepal tree is a religious and medicinal tree.

  All parts of the tree are used in folk medicine, with the juice from the leaves being used for ear ache. People heat the leaves over a flame and collect the juice from them. The powdered bark is used to heal wounds, and used in a poultice to reduce the glandular swelling when children have mumps. The root bark is used in preparations for stomach problems while the roots are used for gout and are also chewed to prevent gum diseases. The fruit, like all figs is used as a laxative and to prevent constipation; it is also employed to promote digestion and stop vomiting. It is believed to be good for the heart, to cure bad breath and figs quench thirst. The powdered fruit is given to people with asthma. The seeds are used as a diuretic and to cure urinary tract disorders, and sometimes the leaves are used to cure constipation if the fruit is not available. Parts of the tree are used for jaundice and it is also said to stop palpitations and strengthen the heart.

  One remedy for constipation is to dry the leaves in the sun then grind them to a powder, mix with gur (jaggery) and anise then mix with water and drink. For dysentery fresh peepal leaves and coriander leaves are given with sugar and chewed slowly.

  In folk medicine to quench a thirst you take the bark of the peepal tree and burn it until it becomes charcoal, then put it in a glass of water and drink the water. (This is similar to a remedy my father gave me as a child, if I had been vomiting; he would take an ember from the fire and put it in a glass of water and I would have to drink it. It didn’t taste bad and it always worked.)  For diarrhoea again burn the bark and use the charcoal, but crush it and mix with a little water to form a paste, and put ½ tsp on the tongue then swallow it with water. (This is for babies and young children.)  To bring out bruises and relieve swellings take the bark and crush it with a little water so that it forms a paste, then put this on the affected area and the bruise will start to appear or the swelling will go down. If you have frequent nosebleeds, grind the bark and soak in water overnight. Strain, add sugar and drink the water in the morning before you get out of bed.

  In Ayurvedic medicine, the bark is for diarrhoea, dysentery, piles stomach problems, gonorrhea burns and used as an anti-inflammatory. A decoction of the bark is given for gonorrhea, hiccoughs, skin diseases and vomiting. It is said to have cooling properties. The leaves and tender shoots are purgative and have wound-healing properties and are given to cure some skin diseases. The juice of the leaves is for sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunctions and impotency, and is thought to be an aphrodisiac. It is also used to treat asthma, diarrhoea, toothache and gastric problems as well as migraines, eye problems and scabies. A decoction of the leaves is used to kill the pain of toothache. The dried fruit is used to treat T.B., fever, paralysis and piles, and the seeds are cooling and used as a laxative. The latex from the tree is used for neuralgia, inflammation and piles, so it has the reputation of being a cure-all.

  The fruit contains pinene as does the Chaste tree and wormwood, as well as limonene, also found in citrus fruits such as lemons and citrons. Parts of the tree have tannins which may possess the ability to increase collagen which would promote wound-healing. The figs help the body produce serotonin which is a mood enhancer, and the peepal tree can help in diabetes as it lowers blood glucose levels.

  Clinical trials have shown that many of the traditional uses of the peepal tree have a sound basis, as it has been shown that the tree has antifungal properties, antimicrobial ones, is a source of antioxidants, can help stop convulsions, is immunomodulatory, can lower blood cholesterol levels, can help with asthma, is estrogenic, can enhance cognitive powers and mood, has some pain-killing properties, and can kill intestinal worms. The root contains phytosterols, amino acids, phenolic compounds and furanocoumarins. The bark contains tannins, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides.

  More research is to be done on the peepal tree, but it seems as though traditional healers, once again, know what they are doing when it comes to plant medicine.

PEEPAL PICKLE

Ingredients

leaf buds (young leaves before they open) of peepal

water

salt

mustard oil

Method

Wash the leaves carefully and then boil them in water to get rid of the sour taste; then discard the water.

Sprinkle salt over the leaf buds and leave them in the sun to dry off.

When the water has evaporated, put them in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Pour mustard oil over them to cover them and put on the lid.

Leave the jar in the sun for 2 days and the preserve will be ready.

Use this as a tasty remedy for bouts of sickness and diarrhoea.

If you have fever, take 1 tbsp of the pickle and it will soon go.

This has Taste and is a Treat(ment).